Sarah Bertschmann, ’20, M.Ed. ’21, credits the Boston College Lynch School for instilling her with care and compassion that continue to define her leadership approach alongside theory and practice.
As a principal, she cares for her students by “not only focusing on their academic skills, but who they are as individuals”.
As a Double Eagle, Bertschmann earned her B.A. in Elementary Education and quickly realized that she could add a fifth year in order to obtain a M.Ed. in Special Education for Moderate Support Needs. Today, she proudly serves as the Principal of the Day and Residential School at Walker Therapeutic and Educational Programs.
Sarah Bertschmann
In her journey from Lynch School student to working professional, Bertschmann’s path has been paved with experiences rooted in the Jesuit mission of formative—holistic, purposeful—education.
“The mission of the Lynch School aligns really well with the therapeutic setting that I'm working in; it oriented me to have the right mindset going into this field of work,” she shared.
During her time at BC, Bertschmann was a member of the PULSE Program, which aims to educate students about the injustices of society by connecting them with marginalized populations and social change organizations. Supplementing the academic coursework, the program places students in locations such as community centers, corrections facilities, domestic violence shelters, health clinics, and housing programs.
Throughout the year, members of the PULSE Program meet weekly in the classroom to reflect and discuss their unique experiences. Bertschmann was placed at the Italian Home in Jamaica Plain, a therapeutic school for students with emotional and behavioral needs.
“That was a population of students and a type of school that was new to me,” Bertschmann explained. “When I started volunteering there, I fell in love with the work and wanted to continue to explore that.”
Her service placement ignited a love for students with moderate needs, leading Bertschmann to her job at the Walker School in Needham. The Walker School is a private, special education, extended-year school serving students in grades K-8. Walker School students require more specialized support than they were able to access in traditional school or home environments, which has led to their placement at Walker.
“Many of our students have experienced significant trauma or have complex needs that have led to the behaviors that we’re seeing. The mission of the Lynch School and the Jesuit values at BC—thinking about the whole person and promoting justice through service—are well aligned with my current organization,” Bertschmann explained.
The Lynch School’s approach to formative education is a distinctive feature of the learning experience offered at Boston College. Students are trained to think critically, emotionally, socially, and morally, in preparation for careers that require them to address the complex dimensions of the community they serve.
In her current role, Bertschmann constantly puts these understandings into practice. “This approach is at the core of every decision that I’m making day-to-day. That was true when I was a teacher, and it’s even more true now, as the principal. Not just focusing on their academic skills, but who they are as individuals."
Educators at the Walker School emphasize that emotional learning can be just as essential as academic learning, and understand that families and communities are an essential part of a students’ success.
“While I have the [necessary] training from BC, which prepared me very well, [the parents] have [unique] expertise of their child, so finding ways to integrate their voices in team decisions is really important. We're not just thinking about the student as another chair in the classroom, but how to best serve [each individual] student at our school.”
As the field continues to evolve, Bertschmann stays inspired by focusing on the small victories and reflecting on thought-provoking questions from Father Himes during her years at BC.
Father Himes Three Questions:
What are you good at?
What brings you joy?
What does the world need from you?
“In this work, as challenging as it is, I recognize that I have the skillset to do it well. I really enjoy it. I love connecting with students and their families to create a space where sometimes, for the first time, both feel like they can be successful.”
She encourages future educators to tackle challenges by reflecting on the same questions, finding ways they can utilize their talents to make a difference in the classrooms, schools, and communities they serve.